Snow Route Parking Ban called as Calgary receives record snowfall

In response to amongst a 60 year record snowfall in a 24 hour period for the City of Calgary, officials have activated its Municipal Emergency Plan. This coordinated approach ensures all City operations and our municipal partners are working together to ensure citizen safety and minimal disruption to essential City services.

“Our partners in the City of Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Okotoks have offered to mobilize and send snow removal equipment and operators to help with the situation here in Calgary,” says Chief Tom Sampson of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency.

“Just as Calgary has lent a hand to our neighbours in crisis in during events such as Slave Lake or the Fort McMurray wildfire, they’re now providing the additional support we need to manage these extraordinary, unseasonable weather conditions. It’s also a reminder to lend a hand to those in need of assistance in our own communities. Be a Snow Angel and help neighbours with mobility issues in clearing snow from their sidewalks.”

City announces snow route parking ban

Roads crews and seasonal contractors are working around the clock maintaining city streets to keep Calgarians on the move.

To assist with the snow clearing efforts, citizens are advised a snow route parking ban has been called and will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3. Snow route parking bans are expected to be in effect for up to 72 hours, or until lifted.

“As outlined in our 7 Day Snow Plan, while the snow continues to fall, crews will continue to focus on priority one routes - streets that see more than 20,000 vehicles a day such as Crowchild Trail and in the downtown core,” says Bill Biensch, Roads Maintenance Manager. “With significant accumulations of snow anticipated in the forecast for the remainder of the evening and overnight hours, the parking ban will help us get a head start on bus routes and connector roads, so our operations can plow snow more efficiently.”

Transit asking for patience

Calgary Transit is committed to providing service to Calgarians with minimal disruptions and began preparations for the snowfall last night.

Additional staff were brought in to our dispatch and customer service centres.

“We’re assessing risky areas and known trouble spots, especially for the 60 foot buses, and developing route detours and shifting equipment where needed,” says Doug Morgan, Director of Calgary Transit.

“At the peak of the morning rush approximately 80 transit vehicles were stuck or required assistance. We’re reminding customers to use the Calgary Transit app for schedule information, to dress for the conditions and allow extra time to get to their destinations.”

In addition to existing Transit staff support teams, The City also had large Waste and Recycling vehicles and Calgary Firefighters assisting buses that were stuck.

The City of Calgary would like to thank Calgarians for their patience as well as cooperation during snow route parking bans.

For information on road conditions and snow route maps visit calgary.ca/snow.

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